Siri Rhodes

I attended a talk with Siri Rhodes; a director who has worked on River City for years. Loads of interesting advice.

-Print script in A5 and note keywords, eg. Threaten

-Storyboards; X shows which way they’re facing

-Always first serve the story, then performance. Nice shots mean nothing if they aren’t doing anything

-Treat intimate scenes like stunts

-Gets script and highlights all the slug lines in one colour. Under the slugline, a cast banner shows who is in the scene, (eg. Ollie, Mum, Dad). Highlight the characters who are in the scene from the beginning

-Shooting script; new page for every scene

-If script is big, get it spiral bound.

-For TV, not every scene needs to be a masterpiece. In order to make sure you have time for important scenes, prioritise each scene as 1, 2,

3 levels of importance

-Prioritise moments of emotional importance

-Everyone deserves the time to do their job well. Treat every department, from hair and make-up to camera, equally

-Cheat as much as you can! -When working with an editor second half the day with them and the leave them for the res of the day; trust they can do their job

-Always watch the rushes at the end of each day, so you know if something needs reshot

-Don’t be afraid to take a moment and think

-At the start of each day, sit down with the AD and say if

the worst comes to the worst, you can cut these shots

-You have to give crew 12 hours off, so if you overrun then you risk bumping the start time the next day. You need to have permission from everyone to do overtime

-If you’re shooting dialogue, get the shot you want, and then swing the lens and bump in for a close-up. It won’t take any time and you’ll probably use it

-Floorplan every scene.

-The first thing you shoot should be a full run through of the scene so that everyone on the crew knows what’s happening

-Master Shots (Book)

-Script supervisor, always write each character’s previous scene and next above their name in the script

On Set Protocol

- Line run with Script Supervisor.

- Block the scene (1st AS and DP also present).

- Rehearse the scene [Director - "standing by for a rehearsal, and action."]

- Show the crew.

- Actors off set to costume, hair and makeup.

- Crew in to rig camera/ lighting/ sound.

- Actors back for full tech rehearsal.